Pioneer Woman at Heart

My first granny square scarf.  I had fun with this and plan to make another one for gifting.   This one went to the same daughter, that this hat (another finished project)....

I've been experimenting with different deodorant recipes.  The last one I made was in liquid form, and the recipe was from Mountain Rose Herbs.  You can see my post here .  I like the liquid roll on, just don't ever put lemongrass in it. It will burn (it's just very strong). I wanted to try another recipe for using deodorant containers.  No messy application, and I am hoping for a consistency that won't melt in summer. I'm trying to convert my girls to using homemade vs. store bought organic/aluminum free (expensive) deodorants.  It has been a tough road in converting them too. In the very beginning of these trials we first started out with a recipe that used coconut oil - hard in winter, soft in summer, and it was applied by fingertip.  It was shunned quickly by the girls, and Hubby didn't want to mess with it when we had to keep it in the fridge in summer. You can simply use baking soda for a deodorant too. I have not tried this (yet).  Exp...

A short while ago, I mixed up a recipe for homemade bubble bath.  Just you so know, there are so many different recipes out there to try.   I got bubbles, but I have well water too.  The water turned a milky white due to the ingredients too. The bubbles were not real big, but the clove oil really stood out.  I think any good essential oil will work. It just depends on what you want. 

Remember those baby food jars I needed?  Well, I finally got around to making one jar of homemade vapo-rub.  I think I will be trying several recipes. A farmgirl shared the recipe with me.  This recipe is for adults (over the age of 12 I believe, but you could always swap out the peppermint for a safe oil for children).  Always do your research on what oils are safe, if you have young children, infants or if you are pregnant.

I'm posting early today.  Hubby brought home another 10 lb. box of blueberries and a box of peaches.  I'll be busy for sure. Here's an update on our journey to being self-sufficient.  Each year it gets better.   In the last 3 1/2 years we have really gained progress with self-sufficiency.  It does require some investments, but those pay off.  So far this year, with making our own soap with our goat's milk, have not had to buy any bars of soap (and have used it to make homemade laundry detergent also). We have not purchased dishwasher detergent either, and I am proud that we have reduced those chemicals and costs. We have not had to buy any onions or potatoes this year.  Last year we did.   We went all winter using green peppers we froze versus buying them from the store. When we are low on eggs, we do without.   We have cut down the cost of buying organic milk by having the goat's, and have drastically cut down the trips to...

from the homesteading journal. . . I made another batch of homemade dishwasher detergent. This has saved us money and kept the chemicals off of our dishes. Although many of the kids are not willing to try my homemade deodorant, I can say it holds up to a full workout at the gym, followed by an afternoon of wood splitting. The snow has melted and the rains have arrived again . The yard looks like it flooded already, so the laundry is being dried inside. . . {scrap fabric drying on my indoor clothesline} from the baking/cooking journal. . . I used to cook from my pantry to keep foods from expiring, but so often I am cooking from my freezer.  With the increased amount of garden and fruit frozen versus canned, I searched for recipes that can use up my shredded zucchini, and blueberries.   I baked two loaves of zucchini/blueberry bread , and realized that I could also utilize any applesauce I have frozen as well (in place of cooking oil).  I had to ...

Thank you everyone for your prayers, good thoughts and well wishes overall.  We are all so shocked and deeply saddened over the passing of our grandson.  They have no diagnosis, and his family awaits an autopsy.  They awoke to him not breathing. On a more pleasant note, when I changed my bandage this morning, I noticed the wound (at my ankle) getting smaller, which is a sign of healing (but still nasty looking). Hubby plans to go load up the car our daughter totaled, tow it here, and scrap it for parts.  He then plans to sell what's left for a derby car.  The engine, tires and other new parts will be sold.  That's the plan. Daughter will then use that money to help pay for a new one eventually.  We hope the car is derivable, so they can get it up on the trailer today.  It's costing us $17 a day for every day it is still there at the tow yard. I am trying to figure out a crock pot dinner, that can be tossed together and then just heated up to...

I absolutely forgot to join in on this last Monday.  Today I am.  I'm joining up with Sandra at Diary of at Stay at Home Mom.  My week is starting up with less stress and more of a better plan this week. Sunday, by 3pm I shockingly told Hubby, "I haven't had a hook in my hand all day!"  Nope.  We had a lumberjack breakfast, cut a load of barn wood (making another dent in the debris pile), and spent the rest of the day in the kitchen.  It was a meatloaf, potato kind of day.  I also got a frittata baked for on-the-go breakfast, along with homemade blueberry pancakes for those who were not on the go.  With breakfast baking/cooking freeing me up today, and the bed sheets already washed and dried, I'm ready to tackle cleaning chores today. On the breakfast plate. . .

I baked my bacon in the oven for the first time.  It saves stove top space, but I'm not sure I like it that way.  I like crispy bacon, and this did not crisp up, nor was there much bacon grease to save.  I think I prefer stove top cooking.  What's your thoughts on this?  Instructions said 375°F for 15-18 minutes and I baked it 20. I'm not sure I'll get to do too many craft shows this fall as planned.  One has passed, one is already booked up (I've tried to get into this other one for the last two years, but when I find out about it, it's too late.  I have one more to look into, but they haven't set a date.  If that happens, I'll be posting the items up for sale on my Rooster's Crow Farm blogspot.   I snapped this picture the other morning.  It made me smile.  The clouds in the center formed the letter "C" - first letter in our grandson's first name (the one that passed). The to-do list on making from scratch items ha...

We woke up to thick fog Monday morning.  School was delayed 2 hours, then eventually closed .  As I took the dogs out, it started to rain.  Urghhh.  Rain.  Like we need anymore.   Tuesday t he fog was ba d again - another school delay.   However, some lovely green peppers were stuffed and